Flying-machine.



V. M. OSBORN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED HBA, 1913.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

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FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED ERBA, 1913.

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I 1,076,514, Patented. 0G13. 21, 1913.

51m/vento@ CULUMBLfx PLANouRAPl-l CO.,WA5HINDTON D. C.

V. M. OSBORN.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MBA, 1913.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

CQLUMBM PLANOGRAPH C0.,WASHINGTON. D, c,

VICTOR M. OSBORN, LA l-HZEITE,l INDIANA.

FLYINGrMACHINE.

Speccationf Letters. Patent.

Patented Get. 21,1913.

Application 1edFebr.uary 4,1913;A SeralNo. 7465229.v

T0 all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, Vieron M. OsBoRN, a citizen of the United States, residing` atLa Fayette, in the county of Tippecanoe and State of indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-lt/fachines, of which the following` is a. specification.-

This invention relates to flying machines of the heavier-than-air type, the objectof the invention being to-.provide al machine which is inherently stable and'which embodies important and desirable safety factors, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration, I have shown the application of my invention to a monoplane type of machine, although it is to be understood that the essential featuresthereof may be embodied in biplane or other multiplane machines.

ln the said. drawings: Figure lis a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. l. F ig; 4 is a sectional plan view on line H of Fig. l. 5 is a perspective view of themain portion of the car or main frame andthe supporting surface separated from each other and showingmore clearly the pivotal connections.

fn carrying my invention into practicev I provide a machine body including 'a main frame or car l, which carries the supporting surface 2. The said main frame or car l includes a substantially triangular base formed of rods or tubes 3 and provided with suitably cushioned launching and landing wheels et. This base is providedjwith a longitudinally extendingbedl orplatform 5 supporting the driving motor G, the aviators seat 7, and steering and controlling devices S and 9, which elements are arranged in a novel manner, as hereinafter fully described. The main frame also `carries a head extension or frame portion 10 and a tail frame or extension ll. The portion 10 is provided with bearings for a longitudinally extending shaft l2 carrying a tractor propeller 18, which shaft is driven by chain or other suitable gearing 14 from the shaft of the motor 6. The tail frame or extension l1 has mounted thereon a vertical rudder l5 suitably coupled to the steering and controlling device 8, whereby said rudder may be adjusted toisteer the machine laterally in the usual way. l

rllhe body of the car or main frame is substantially of frusto-pyramidal form, and includes inverted V-shaped side standards lGf formingwith the associated rods or tubes 3 triangular frameportions of maximum strength' and durability, said frame portions being connected t each other and to the base by suitable uprights 17 and braces 18. rlhe supporting surface 2 comprises, as sho-wn in the present instance, a plane of any suitable construction, the wings 13 and 2O of' which are preferably inclined at a slight dihedral angle. This plane is provided with ribs 2l andis fixed to an inverted V-shaped frame 22 which extends through the plane. rIhe upper portion of ther frame 2Q forms a truss bracket E23, between which and the wings extend upper truss-wires or cables 24, while the lower or cli-verging arms of the frame extend downwardly on opposite sides of the main frame and are connected at their lower ends by a cross rod 25. A lower set of said wires or cables 26 connect these arms of the' frame 22 with the wings 19 and 20, the outer ends of the wires or cables being preferably fastened tothe ribs 2l, as shown, whereby the frame-and wings are rigidly united.

r)The cross rod 25 extends transversely through the main frame below the bed or platform `5, andy the supporting surface 2 is connected with the upper extremities of the uprights of the main frame by hinges or pivotsQGf-, whereby the body of the machine andthe supporting surface are pivotally coupledfor relative fore and aft swinging movements. The rod or cross piece 25 is connected by a link 27 with the controlling device 9, which is shown in the form of a lever movable in a fore and aft direction and provided with a spring actuated dog or pawl 28 to engage a rack 29 on the car, whereby the machine body and supporting surface may be relatively adjusted and locked whenever desired against relative movement.

It will be observed that the motor 6 is mounted upon the base of the car or body at a point in advance of the aviators seat and of the centers of gravity and pressure, while the aviators seat and controlling devices are mounted upon the base of the car at a point in rear of the motor and of the lOl) centers o-f gravity and pressure, whereby the respective weights mentioned are employedV to counterbalance each other to a determined extent, the prepondering part of the weight of the motor being suii'icient to balance the weight of the tail frame, whereby a high degree of inherent fore and aft stability is secured. At the sam-e time a low center of gravity is obtained, which adapts the car or body to operate as a pendulum, tending to maintain both longitudinal and lateral stability against excess air pressures liable to disturb the poise of the machine. rlhe described arrangement of the motor is also of advantage in that it enables the aviator to have ready access thereto and maintain a constant observation of the working thereof, while at the same time avoiding liability of injury to the aviator from the downward plunge of the motor in the event of the Vfall of the machine, which is liable to occur in all machine structures where the motor is arranged above or in rear oi" the aviators seat.

lt will be observed that in the flight of the machine the aviator by means of the controlling Adevice 9 may tilt the supporting surface either to vary its angle of incidence, and lifting power, or to adapt it to serve as an elevator or horizontal rudder to steer the machine up or down in a vertical plane, or to restore the longitudinal balance of the machine in the event of its longitudinal stability being at any time disturbed. The control device may be unlatched in order to allow a relative pivotal balancing motion between the machine body and supporting surface at times desired or may bel locked against movement to hold the supporting surface fixed at any required working angle. lt will be observed also that by the described construction of the frame and supporting sur face, th-e car is maintained at all times in a substantially horizontal plane, whether the machine is traveling straight ahead, ascending or descending, while the propeller as a consequence always has a fixed path of rotation. Hence as the angle of travel of the propeller is not varied when the path of travel of the machine is changed, as in steering upward or downward, the tendency of the propeller to'exert its gyroscopic force and throwing excess strain upon either wing of the machine is avoided.

lclaim :i

l. A flying inachine including a main-frame of approximately frusto-pyramidal `form, a car or platform carried bysaidmain frame,

a similarly shaped independent frame pivotally connected with the vortex of said main frame for relative longitudinal tilting `motion on a horizontaltransverse axis, said independent frame extending above the main frame and beneath the vcarV or platform, and wings iXed to the independent frame and mounted to tilt therewith, the said"main frame and car forming a gravity controlled body operating -by gravity to maintain. a normal perpendicular position,

for tilting said independent frame upon the body and holding` it in tilted position. v

2. A flying machine includingV a body, formed of a main frame having a base and uprights rising therefrom, said main frame having a head portion carrying a tractor propeller and a tail extension provided with a vertical rudder, a motor mounted upon the base in advance of the centers of gravity and pressure and in gear with the propeller, an aviators seat mounted upon the base in rear of the centers of gravity and pressure, a controlling device upon the body for adjusting the vertical rudder, a supporting surface having a frame including` side members extending down on opposite sides of the main frame and a cross piece connecting said side members and extending transversely of the main frame, said supporting surface being pivoted for a relative fore and aft motion to the uprights of the body, a controlling device upon the base of the body in proximity `rto the aviators seat, a connection between the same and the cross piece of the frame of the supporting surface, and means for locking said controlling device in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses. y

VCTR M. OSBORN.

Witnesses: Y

C. C. Hines,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C.

and means v'7 0 

